Cote d’Ivoire wants to strengthen cooperation with Russia in all areas, and negotiations have already been held on the purchase of Russian military equipment, Ivorian Foreign Minister Kacou Adom told Sputnik.
"We want to strengthen cooperation in all areas. We participated in the Africa-Russia summit in Sochi. We have a very good relationship. And I often meet with your ambassador myself," the minister noted.
As for the purchase of Russian military equipment, the minister said that "there have already been discussions, and the army has Russian equipment."
Aside from that, Kako Adom noted that the country has no information regarding the potential establishment of a US military base.
"We have relations with the United States, but unless proven otherwise, there have never been any mentions of them planning to set up a base," he said.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the US Armed Forces, Charles Brown, mentioned that the United States might open new military bases in West Africa to replace those withdrawn from Niger. According to media reports, Benin, Ghana, and Cote d’Ivoire are among the countries being considered.